College recommendations for musician interested in business

Chance Me / Match Me
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Hi! I am a senior from Utah. I am currently at a public high school although I used to be homeschooled. I love music and play the harp, guitar, and sing. I would love to continue to pursue my passion for this while also getting a degree in some form of business.

I am mostly looking at schools in California, Massachusetts, and Tennessee. However, I am open to other states (except for Texas, Florida, Arizona, and other really hot states). I would like to either be near or in a city (more music resources and opportunities, more things to do). However, I want the college to have a good campus feel (so not NYU).

I am interested in majoring in some form of business such as marketing, business administration, music business, entrepreneurship, or Public Relations. I would love to follow my passion for music by minoring in music. I am also planning on doing a study abroad program.

My unweighted GPA is a 3.994 but I expect it to be a 3.996 come this fall. I have a 31 ACT score but I am retaking it and WILL get a 34 or above.

By the end of senior year, I will have taken 8 AP classes. This includes AP Music Theory, AP US History, AP English Language & Composition, AP World History, AP Human Geography, AP Psychology, AP Calculus BC, and AP English Literature.

I have won service awards as well as harp awards. I participate in yearly harp competitions where I have won medals. I am also in multiple service clubs at my school. Outside of school clubs, I am the deputy mayor at my county youth government’s office. Over the summer, I spend my time traveling the world.

I am not too concerned about cost. I do not qualify for financial aid; however I may qualify for merit aid at some schools. Right now, I am trying to figure out where I want to apply. Once I get my decisions back I will consider costs.

Here are the schools I am interested in:

  • Stanford
  • Harvard
  • Berklee (target/safety)
  • Northeastern
  • Boston University
  • Vanderbilt
  • UCLA
  • USC
  • Belmont (safety)
  • BYU (safety)

I would love any recommendations of schools or programs to look into for undergraduate school. Thank you so much!

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Look into the University of Rochester.

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Thank you! I’ll have to look into it.

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I really like the programs offered here. However, I keep seeing articles on the crime in Rochester. I am super paranoid and am afraid of every corner so I don’t want to go somewhere known for its crime. Is it as dangerous as it seems? Other than that it seems like an amazing school. The programs are right up my alley.

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If you’re serious about music and business, you should take a serious look at Belmont University in Nashville.

  • edited to add *
    Oops, you’ve already got it on your list!

Also wanted to add that you should use the Net Price Calculator to consider costs. And figure out what you & your family can afford to pay.

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Well, I wouldn’t suggest that you brush off your research as inconsequential. My first personal association of UR isn’t with crime, however.

With respect to a few of UR’s favorable or distinguishing characteristics, it offers a classically arranged campus in a riparian setting, a notably accessible curriculum, a high population of students of international origin and winter snow suitable for the adventurous, along with renowned music programs, of course.

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In addition to Belmont (religious), Middle Tennessee State is well known for music business.

I would also say - you don’t necessarily need a degree combining the two. You might simply need a business degree. Music companies have many of the same roles as non-music companies - so Vanderbilt could work too - you’d have access to musical organizations - although Vandy doesn’t have an undergrad business degree.

These are the types of internships posted in Nashville:

Synchronization Licensing Administration, Intern

Music Business Internship - Summer 2024

AUF Professional Services

Fall 2024 Guest Relations (Paid) Intern- job post

Country Music Foundation Inc

Copyright Coordinator (Work Registration)- job post

Concord Music Group, Inc.

Licensing Associate- job post

Concord Music Group, Inc

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Good to know. Thank you for sharing your experience. Sorry I’m literally the most paranoid person ever. I will definitely consider this.

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Thank you for this recommendation! I am very grateful to have a college fund set up for me so I am pretty much set for undergraduate.

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I’ll look into these internships and middle Tennessee state thank you! I love the area and academics and Vanderbilt which make me consider it. However, since they don’t have an undergraduate business program I don’t know what I would like to major in. I’ll have to research that more as well.

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They are simply the types that get posted - obviously there’s many more of various areas.

Yep, check out MTSU.

Or you can go to any school - but focus on obtaining an internships at a music organization. I’m sure their employees come from all over school wise, like any other company.

Best of luck.

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If you want to prioritize music, maybe post on the music major forum.

If you are not going to do a BM degree or major in music, I recommend that you avoid many schools known to be “good for music.” Schools that have BM degree programs may provide the best teachers and opportunities to BM students. (Eastman at U of Rochester is probably not a good fit, but check out music for non-BM student at U of R. Vanderbilt, Belmont and Berklee have BM programs). There are exceptions so check this aspect out.

If you want to do undergrad business, make sure you apply to schools that have undergrad business. Several schools on your list do not (including Harvard). You could major in economics instead of business at those.

You might want to read the Double Degree Dilemma essay pinned at the top of the music major forum. I think from what you have written, you could do well at a BA or BS business major at schools that have that, and continue music via lessons and extracurriculars.

Northeastern seems like the best choice from your list, to me. I would consider Clark U. in Worcester Undergraduate Programs | School of Management | Clark University which has a good music department, and Babson is known for business. I think Tufts would be an excellent choice for you and all your interests and it is not on your list.

If you specifically want a music business major, that is a different story so let us know. Berklee has that, Northeastern has that, and many other schools.

If you do apply to BA programs (like Harvard, Stanford) you can submit a music supplement with video/recording, music resume and 1-2 letters of recommendation related to music. This may help with admissions at very selective schools. For Berklee or other BM programs you would audition.

Your list strikes me as quite apples and oranges as does this:

I am interested in majoring in some form of business such as marketing, business administration, music business, entrepreneurship, or Public Relations. I would love to follow my passion for music by minoring in music.

Some selective schools do not have these programs. And you, as I said, may want a school with a good music department but not a BM program. If you want Harvard or Stanford, look at their curricula and majors and see where you fit. There are all kinds of ways to continue music.

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My first thought was Rochester as well. One of the really nice things about their set up is you can do a Music minor at their main (“River”) campus, but still also take some instrument lessons at Eastman if you like:

The main campus is generally very safe (other than the sorts of issues that arise on any college campus) as it is basically in a bend in the river with a cemetery across the land side. Generally my view is Rochester is one of those cities where your violent crime victimization risk is very low as long as you follow standard basic precautions, and do not like join a drug gang or such. But obviously you need to feel safe!

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You will need to develop street smarts/living in an urban environment for many of the schools on your list. Kids see a photo of Harvard Yard and assume that it’s comparable to a gated community in a suburb- it’s not. It’s smack dab in the middle of Cambridge, a diverse and lively and fun city, but it has urban problems like everywhere else. Ditto Northeastern, BU.

If you don’t like city living- which means seeing homeless people, poor people, and yes- the POTENTIAL for crime-- don’t apply to urban colleges. But most kids in urban colleges quickly learn how to keep themselves safe. Don’t take out $100 from an ATM at 2 am. Don’t walk home alone from the library or music practice studio at midnight. Don’t prop open your dorm’s fire exit so a friend can come visit you without swiping in at security. Don’t leave your wallet and laptop on your seat in the student center while you go to the bathroom.

Etc. Colleges offer van services, walking escorts, etc. and you’ll learn how and when to use them to stay safe.

Good luck!

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One of my sons looked at this briefly. Very competitive.

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https://www.loyno.edu/academics/colleges/college-music-media/music-industry-studies

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When you mentioned business and music, the first school I thought of was Indiana University which has both a top business school (Kelley) and music school (Jacobs). It’s not in a big city, but Bloomington is a very cosmopolitan feeling town, and the music school itself affords tons of opportunities.

If you really want to be in a big city, Butler in Indianapolis would be another option to consider as it is well-respected for music and offers business majors as well.

I was also thinking of Loyola New Orleans, but if you don’t like the heat, then it would not be a great fit for you.

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My daughter is at grad school at BU, it was between there or NUU, because she wanted a very urban environment (she’s a city mouse, took buses, trains and subways in HS). BU doesn’t really have a defined campus. She has mace and a birdie fir when she walks alone at night.